Shen Yun received Su Xiaoqi’s glance, squeezed her palm, and whispered in her ear, "I'll tell you later."
Su Xiaoqi nodded in understanding.
Naturally, those unsavory matters couldn't be known by Shen Xiaomei and Zhao Xiaozhu.
However, there were some things Su Xiaoqi felt were necessary to tell them.
She very tactfully mentioned that some things had happened the previous night.
Zhao Hai'e had gotten into trouble.
She urged them to be more vigilant wherever they went in the future.
They should never easily trust what people say if they weren't the right people.
Zhao Xiaozhu and Shen Xiaomei had both been kidnapped by traffickers before.
They had a deep understanding of the dangers of the world.
They nodded earnestly in response.
In addition, Zhao Xiaozhu showed her two fine cotton shirts and one silk blouse she had made recently.
Su Xiaoqi's eyes lit up with admiration.
Zhao Xiaozhu’s craftsmanship was truly excellent.
While praising her, Su Xiaoqi also noticed a small issue with the clothing.
It was her embroidery skills that were not up to par.
This wasn't a matter of talent, but rather that she had no one to teach her from a young age.
Su Xiaoqi recalled what she had heard Granny Wen say about her past.
Granny Wen had been an embroiderer in a wealthy family in the capital many years ago.
Later, as she grew older and her eyesight deteriorated, she returned to her hometown to make a living.
A thought struck her, and she told Zhao Xiaozhu that Aunt Wen’s embroidery skills were very good and that she could try to become her apprentice.
Zhao Xiaozhu hesitated.
She was naturally insecure and feared that Granny Wen might not be willing to take her on.
After all, although she seemed approachable, she was actually quite dignified.
Su Xiaoqi said, "Don't be afraid, and don't worry about whether she's willing or not. Just tell me if you want to."
Su Xiaoqi's words gave Zhao Xiaozhu a sense of direction.
That's right, she still had Sister Xiaoqi.
Things she couldn't handle, Xiaoqi could always sort out.
"I... I want to learn, very much, very much," Zhao Xiaozhu said, biting her lip, her voice as quiet as a mosquito’s hum.
Su Xiaoqi smiled sweetly and clapped her hands, declaring that it was settled.
She would find some time later to prepare six gifts and take Zhao Xiaozhu to apprentice.
"Hehe, that's wonderful. I'll learn cooking and pastry making, and Little Sister Xiaozhu will learn embroidery," Shen Xiaomei exclaimed excitedly.
She had originally thought that her sister-in-law finding her such a good place at Chen Jin Ji was a great thing.
Not only could she earn money, but she could also learn.
This was something she wouldn't have dared to dream of before.
As she diligently practiced gratitude, she felt something was not quite right – she shouldn't just keep Xiaozhu at home.
She worried that without her company, Xiaozhu might get depressed and contemplate suicide.
Now, it was perfect; everyone had something to do.
Given Xiaozhu's fondness for embroidery, she wouldn't have to worry about her falling back into her old ways anymore.
Zhao Xiaozhu and Shen Xiaomei whispered to each other.
Their words were filled with gratitude towards Su Xiaoqi.
Meanwhile, Shen Yun stared at Su Xiaoqi.
What was he going to do? He liked his little wife more and more, and he was more and more reluctant to part with her.
If his future wasn't uncertain, he really wanted to stay home and dote on her every day.
She was so full of clever ideas; staying with her all day wouldn't be boring at all.
Zhao Ye, sitting on the carriage shaft outside, straightened his posture, leaning his head against the carriage wall and curtain.
He tried his best to get closer to her inside.
This feeling persisted until he carried the fish off the carriage.
Su Xiaoqi pulled Shen Yun forward to help.
"Zhao Ye, your hand hasn't healed completely yet. Don't strain yourself."
This one sentence alone made Zhao Ye's heart bloom.
He beamed a big smile at Su Xiaoqi and nodded, even waving his hand.
Indicating that he was perfectly fine.
Shen Yun already knew that Zhao Ye had been bitten by a snake while saving Su Xiaoqi, and he felt a slight displeasure.
However, he was also grateful for Zhao Ye’s sacrifice for Su Xiaoqi.
Besides, Zhao Ye was just a mute, only knew how to smile foolishly, and couldn't even speak.
Even if he had a thousand feelings for Su Xiaoqi, they would likely be in vain.
The mule cart set off again, dropping off Shen Xiaomei and Zhao Xiaozhu in turn.
Only Shen Yun remained.
Su Xiaoqi immediately became gossipy, leaning closer to him to ask about last night's events.
Shen Yun’s gaze was met by Su Xiaoqi’s clear, bright eyes.
He found himself unable to utter those unsavory words.
It was as if he was afraid of dirtying her ears.
Su Xiaoqi rolled her eyes at him, thinking, "Great, I watched 'Japanese adult films' when you didn't even know where you were.
Hmph, getting all sentimental."
Shen Yun heard her thoughts and didn't understand what "Japanese adult films" meant.
But from her tone, he knew she was teasing him.
He grumpily recounted the scene in broad strokes.
He concluded that Zhao Hai'e had been thoroughly manhandled.
And was eventually carried back by Zhao Xiaohua.
"She's quite loyal," Su Xiaoqi said, unable to smile.
Although Zhao Hai'e had instigated the incident,
it was ultimately because of her powder that she had suffered this calamity.
As the saying goes, "Why should women make things difficult for women?"
She had been forced to retaliate and achieved a decisive victory, but she didn't savor the joy of winning.
"It's over, and she brought it upon herself," Shen Yun said with a cold expression, seeing that she couldn't let go.
Su Xiaoqi turned her gaze to him.
There was no hint of pity on Shen Yun's face; he was as calm as a block of ice.
Su Xiaoqi sighed; this was the true disposition of Shen Yun.
She suddenly felt a sense of unease.
After sending Shen Yun off, she returned to the "supermarket."
Zhao Dayou and Xiao Yi rushed to tell her as soon as they saw her.
"Boss, they've been caught."
Su Xiaoqi froze for a moment before remembering that she and Xiao Liu had staged a play here the day before yesterday.
She had expected it to be performed today, but it had happened earlier.
It was a pity she hadn't witnessed the process.
However, according to Zhao Dayou, the matter was quite simple.
When Xiao Liu went to deliver the message to that Su Dafu, he didn't suspect a thing.
As agreed, he brought people to load the grain.
As a result, he was caught red-handed by Zhao Dayou and the patrolling soldiers under the charge of theft.
The man had now been locked up in prison.
"Where is Xiao Liu?" Su Xiaoqi thought of the involved party.
Zhao Dayou said, "He's a witness, and he's at home right now. He can't go anywhere. Does the boss still want to see him?"
"No need, keep an eye on him for now," Su Xiaoqi replied.
She hadn't figured out how to deal with him yet.
For now, she would leave him be.
Zhao Dayou turned and instructed Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi immediately got up and went out.
Su Xiaoqi then went to the shop to check the accounts and the condition of the shelves.
She walked around and found that the shop had quite a bit of space, and there were many places to display goods.
She thought of the three outfits Zhao Xiaozhu had made.
And the pastries from Chen Jin Ji.
She called Zhao Dayou over and discussed her ideas with him.
Zhao Dayou, having just cleared his name, was a bit hesitant to make decisions and only said he would follow her lead.
Su Xiaoqi didn't mind.
Trust, though a simple two-word phrase,
was not easy to truly establish.
However, time would prove everything.
She entered the courtyard through the back door of the shop.
Everyone was enthusiastically making buckwheat tea.
In just two days, they had already produced a hundred jin of buckwheat.
Su Xiaoqi immediately had Xiao Er move it to the "supermarket" in front for sale.
The price was set according to her previous pricing: fifty wen per jin for ordinary buckwheat, and seventy wen per jin for black buckwheat.
To promote sales, she also had Little Bluebird and Xiao Liu boil a pot of water and steep some buckwheat tea in it.
They announced it as free tasting.
Soon, it attracted a crowd of customers.
There was no market day today.
The customers were all proprietors or shopkeepers from other shops nearby.
They heard it was buckwheat tea.
Some of the well-informed ones immediately recalled the tea that had been very popular among the students at the county school these past few days.
It seemed to be called buckwheat tea and was sold for two wen a bowl at tea stalls.
Here, it was offered for free tasting, so everyone was interested and came forward to try it out of curiosity.
Su Xiaoqi narrowed her eyes; she had planned it all along, and she was afraid they wouldn't come to taste it.
Once they tasted it, they wouldn't be able to escape.